The unions have also threatened to call for a general strike if the government implements the planned reforms that are scheduled to be submitted to parliament in June.

The government says the reforms are necessary to compensate for the country's debt and to balance the budget by 2016.

The development came as similar demonstrations have been held in other European countries in protest at the austerity measures adopted by governments.

On Saturday, mass protests were held in Spain against unemployment and tight austerity measures for a seventh consecutive day.

Tens of thousands of Spaniards converged in squares in several cities across the country to express their fury at what they described as the Socialist government's ineptitude to tackle the growing financial crisis in the Eurozone's fourth-largest economy.

Earlier, protests were also held In Italy against the increasing number of government cuts on social services for the disabled, aimed at reducing. The Italian government says the cuts are needed to rid the country of its recession.